Urban Planner: April 10, 2012

In today's UP: the man behind Millenium Park lectures at the Munk School, Daniel Karasik's play Haunted gets a public reading, Maisonneuve celebrates its 10th anniversary, and Kat Goldman launches her new album.

LECTURE: While Toronto is often a stand-in for Chicago in films, the cities differ in many ways—with one of the most obvious being the construction of public spaces. Ed Uhlir, executive director of Chicago’s Millenium Park, is speaking at an event today titled “A Little Help from Friends: Partnerships for Parks,” which is the third talk in a series at the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance. Uhlir oversaw the construction and completion of the iconic park, coordinating the contributions of major Chicago-based corporations and world-class artists and architects, including Frank Gehry, Jaume Plensa, and Anish Kapoor. Tonight, he’ll speak about the innovative funding tools and corporate partnerships needed to create new public spaces and what that means for the future of Toronto. Munk School of Global Affairs, Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility (1 Devonshire Place), 4 p.m., FREE (reservation required).

READING: Daniel Karasik is fresh from winning the 2012 CBC Literary Award for Fiction for the short story “Mine,” and his play Haunted will receive a public reading tonight. Haunted—about a university professor who becomes involved with a synagogue’s rabbi, and a daughter who sees her father’s ghost—was the recipient of the 2011 Canadian National Jewish Playwriting Award. The reading will feature Sascha Cole, Rosemary Dunsmore, Sarah English, and Jordan Pettle. Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (750 Spadina Avenue), 8 p.m., FREE (donations encouraged).

MAGAZINE: Maisonneuve is celebrating its 10th birthday—a very big deal for an independent Canadian magazine—with a special anniversary issue and party. The anniversary issue features a piece by Tim Falconer about a tone-deaf man who loves music, and a story by Paul Gettlich about what really happened at Occupy Toronto—among many other pieces. Head to the party tonight to celebrate the milestone, chat up the editors, and drink to the health of print magazines. The Ossington (61 Ossington Avenue), 8 p.m., $5.

MUSIC: A near-fatal freak accident made Kat Goldman take a step back from her music career, but the local songwriter is back with the release of a new album. Gypsy Girl is an autobiographical journey for Goldman, who now makes her home in the Boston area and is studying at Harvard. Kevin Hearn of Barenaked Ladies will open the CD release party and Kenny Hotz will also make an appearance. Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas Street West), 8:30 p.m., $20–$25.

Urban Planner is Torontoist‘s guide to what’s on in Toronto, published every weekday morning, and in a weekend edition Friday afternoons. If you have an event you’d like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you’ve got any—to events@torontoist.com.